Lexington man dies in fiery five-vehicle crash in Virginia

A 54-year-old Lexington man was among two tractor-trailer drivers who died after they were involved in a fiery five-vehicle crash Wednesday in Roanoke, Va.

BY DARRICK IGNASIAKThe Dispatch

A 54-year-old Lexington man was among two tractor-trailer drivers who died after they were involved in a fiery five-vehicle crash Wednesday on Interstate 581 in Roanoke, Va.Lexington resident Kenneth Graham, driving a tractor-trailer for Fleetmaster Express, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash that occurred just south of Exit 3C on Interstate 581. Officers with Virginia State Police were dispatched to the accident at 5:01 p.m.Virginia State Police Sgt. Rick Garletts said the accident began on northbound I-581 and continued into the southbound lanes of the interstate.A 2000 Ford Taurus, driven by 35-year-old Timothy D. Wellons, was driving erratically in the northbound lanes when he made an abrupt movement in front of a tractor-trailer and struck its right front corner, Garletts said. The tractor-trailer was being driven by Paul Golding, 37, of Salem, Va. The Taurus continued into the median where it stopped. The tractor-trailer, meanwhile, continued into the southbound lanes and struck a second tractor-trailer, driven by Graham, head-on. Garletts said two other vehicles also traveling southbound “probably simultaneously” were collected in the wreck. Those vehicles were a 2006 Kia Sportage and a 1998 Ford utility truck transporting between 80 and 100 gallons of diesel fuel. Two people were in the work truck and were not injured. Garletts said it was his understanding the driver of the Kia had minor injuries. Golding also was pronounced dead at the scene.Garletts said after the second crash the two tractor-trailers came together and the fire erupted. The Kia and Ford burned in the crash, and the utility truck’s diesel fuel also erupted.Wellons was released from a hospital about midnight and was taken straight to jail, the sergeant said. He has been charged with driving under the influence and two counts of involuntary manslaughter. Roanoke Commonwealth’s Attorney Donald Caldwell told The Roanoke Times the involuntary manslaughter charges are placeholders to begin the legal process, and his office would be pursuing more serious charges against Wellons when a grand jury convenes in July. Garletts said investigators with Virginia State Police have witnesses who claim Wellons was weaving in and out of traffic prior to the crash.“There was alcohol present, but we don’t know the level at this point in time,” he said.All of the southbound lanes of I-581 were shut down for 11 hours due to the accident, the sergeant said.

Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 217, or at darrick.ignasiak@the-dispatch.com.

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